CHAMPION

Chapter 26 Talk about Us

 "Alright we'll handle it, see ya Jake!" Anthony called smiling as he walked out with Nathan and Chance, cameras still rolling, Jake had told them he wanted them to buy him some snow vehicles to ride around in for later when he felt better, of course asking a lot nicer on camera then he would have normally, and if course they all kept up the act until the separated.

Jake had laid his head on Erika, as he started falling asleep again, a light snore coming from him. Erika was still shaken up by the eye contact she and Anthony had shared moments earlier, but if course, like everything in their group they pretended nothing happened...She had to talk to Anthony, alone, what she did was eating her, and being with Jake just made it worse...

Erika slowly got up putting Jake's head in a pillow as she attempted to scoot to the far side of the bed, just as he leg was dangling over the side, a swift hand grabbed around her wrist startling her.

"Where are you going?" Jake's groggy but slightly irritated voice asked, "To make your tea baby," Erika quickly covered for herself, she was starting to hate what she was doing, although violent and crazy, her and Jake were honest with each other, Jake had trust issues, she knew that, it took him a long time to even say he loved her, and make a real relationship with trust...

Jake's grip loosened on Erika, pulling the blanket over his half naked body instead, "Hurry back," Jake mumbled, Erika smiled a little leaning down to kiss Jake's forehead, "I will," Erika told him, Jake nodded snuggling back into his blanket going back to sleep.

Emotions were flowing through Erika while she left the room, closing their door softly; Jake had began trusting her a lot lately, and now that everything that was going on with him missing their child was out in the open, Jake had gone back to getting clingy with her again...And that made Erika feel horrible, Jake wasn't perfect, but she knew that when she got involved with him, and now she was lying to him.

*I'm not cheating* Erika told herself, besides the guilt, Erika knew what Jake did when he got mad, and she wanted no part of that...One one hand though something still messed with her head, was the reason for kissing another man in the first place because of a dumb mistake while she felt lonely, or did she relish in the fact that she "got back" at Jake for the way he treated her after receiving his gift...?

"Hey Rik," Anthony said as Erika entered the kitchen, he was finishing off a mug of coffee while he watched her stride slow up, "H-hi" Erika stuttered standing on one side of the kitchen, the island separating them, "You looking for something?" Anthony asked watching as Erika glanced around the kitchen with discomfort.

"Tea, I came to make tea..." Erika tried to remember, while she couldn't help the other things in her head due to Anthony being there, "Any kind in particular?" Anthony asked as he opened some drawers, "Aren't you suppose to be shopping for Jake?" Erika blurted out, wishing she never ran into him, "Oh that, the car we rented for driving to town, it has a flat the boys are fixing it- so I decided why not have some coffee?" Anthony told her lazily, with a crooked grin on his face, "Oh.." Erika mumbled .

"So tea? What kind?" Anthony asked again, "Um, for a cold?" Erika suggested, lightly leaning on the island, scratching her nails across the surface as anxiety built up, "There's plenty for immunity; mint, ginger, chamomile...You could mix some," Anthony suggested taking out tea bags, Erika just watched him now, she didn't understand how he could look so calm while she was falling apart inside...

The room was mostly silent, Anthony lightly humming himself as he got out a mug, and began heating water for the tea, there were so many questions to be asked, but he said nothing, he didn't even ask who the tea was for, maybe he didn't even feel affected by the kiss? Why should he be after all, he didn't do it, and he most likely didn't even like her...

"Honey?" Anthony said, "Don't call me that," Erika whispered, as his voice had brought her out of her tumbling thoughts, which in her face with what she had heard. Anthony chuckled, "Is honey going in the tea?" He asked making himself more clear, "Oh...Uh yeah," Erika agreed running her fingers through her hair looking away, "Coming right up," Anthony said pouring some info the fancy, steaming cup.

"Tony- Anthony, we need to talk" Erika finally sighed out, Anthony out down the honey had and walked away, going to the huge room where the pool and Jacuzzi were set up at, Erika was confused for a moment, but eventually followed keeping her eyes down at her feet. Anthony went in first, he let Erika walk in while he held the door open for her, shutting it once she made it in, Erika went and sat on one of the pool side chairs, while Anthony leaned against the wall looking down now as well, the air even more thick and awkward for them now.